Automatic electrical signaling system.



No.'773,868. PATENTED NOV. 1, 1904.

' I I. S. HOLMES. AUTOMATIC ELECTRICAL SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 16, 1903.

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No. 773,868. PATENTED NOV. 1, 1904.

F. SLHOLMESS a 7 AUTOMATIC ELECTRICAL SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 16, 1903.

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FRANKLIN S. HOLMES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRICAL SIGNALING SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 773,868, dated November 1, 1904.

Application filed April 16, 1903- T0 aZZ whom, it may concerni Be it known that I, FRANKLIN S.HOLMES, residing at No. 318 lVestminster road,borough of Brooklyn,city and State of New York,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Electrical Signaling Systems, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to means for automatically testing the integrity of electrical circuits, the principal application contem plated therefor being to telephone burglaralarm constructions.

It has been proposed heretofore to provide for sending periodic signals from a protected structure to a central oflice, the regular arrival of the signals being designed to advise the office that the protected line is in connected operation. The arrival of numerous signals coming frequently from many protected structures simply announcing the negative fact that the circuit has not been disturbed so adds to the confusion, complication, and required oversight of a large office as to make such asystem impracticable. The present invention avoids this difficulty by automatically measuring the predetermined time interval between the successive test-signals and giving an alarm when for any reason such interval is exceeded, thereby positively inclicating a disconnection or short circuit in the protected line. on a telephone-circuit adequate protection, which without signals indicating that the line is intact it is not, and makes such protection practicable in a large telephone office.

In carrying out my invention I provide at the subscribers station, in conjunction with the usual telephone-line, an automatic signaling device of ordinary construction designed at regular intervals to close the circuit and cause a signal, such as the lighting of a signal-lamp at the central oflice, to be given. The observation of this periodic signal may be disregarded, as the periodic lighting of the lamp is not necessary to the invention, the primary purpose of the periodic signals being to actuate an interval-measuring (and alarmgiving) apparatus. This apparatus,'as herein described, comprises a clockwork mechan- This renders a burglar-alarm Serial No. 152,953. (No model.)

ism which moves continuously an arm which constitutes the controller of the alarm-circuit. The periodic signal impulses operate to close a circuit which controls a small electric motor. The latter thus intermittently advances the interval-measuring device, which at the proper time cuts out the motor.

The mechanism includes a contact or terminal which is advanced by the motor so that in the normal condition of things the arm which controls the alarm-circuit does not overtake this contact-point. If, however, the

regular interval for the arrival of a periodic signaling impulse is exceeded, the contactpoint not beingadvanced is overtaken by the continuously-moving arm and the alarm-circuit is closed, giving a positive alarm, such as the ringing of a bell and the dropping of an annunciator. The motor may also be utilized incidentally to wind the clockwork; but this operation may be performed in any suitable way.

The invention also includes details and specific arrangements of apparatus and circuits, as-hereinafter explained.

The accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, illustrate one em bodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the intervalmeasuring and alarm apparatus, showing the circuits in diagram. Fig. 2 isaside elevation of the interval -measuring device. Figs. 3 and 4: are enlarged detail views of parts of the device.

Above the line A B in Fig. 1 is indicated the equipment at a subscribers station and below the line the apparatus'located at the central ofiice.

The main telephone circuit-wires 5 and 6 are connected, as usual, by the branch 8, containing the condenser and ringer, and the branch 7 containing the telephone transmitter, hook, and receiver, which when not in use are in open circuit. In addition to this usual telephone equipment is a shunt 9, also bridging the line-wires 5 and 6. A switch 91 is provided for opening the shunt 9 when protection is not desired or when it is not desired to have the protective signals pass over the line.

At 12 is indicated a clock mechanism which periodically makes connection between the wires 10 and 101 of shunt 9, thereby closing the shunt-circuit and transmitting the predetermined signal to the central. office. This clock mechanism is of ordinary construction and requires no description. On the drawings it is designated Transmitter of signals of normal frequency.

The drawings also indicate at 11 another clock mechanism, which may be similar to 12. It is so connected as to close the shunt 9 in case the wiring of the protection-circuit 13 to 17 is disturbed. On the drawings it is designated Transmitter of signals of abnormal frequency. This is a common construction forming no part of the invention and is indicated only to showhow the invention may be associated with protective systems already devised. In this part of the diagram, 15 and 16 represent the local circuitwires running to the various doors, windows, &c., of the protected structure, 17 a resistance, and 14; an ordinary break-switch.

At the central station the main circuit-wires 5 and 6 are continued through the relay-arm 4 and the coil of relay 4: and by way of the wires 2 and 3 to the subscribers signaling battery 1. As usual and as is well understood, when the main circuit is closed at the subscribers station the local lamp-circuit con trolled by relay t is closed. This circuit comprises wire 24L from battery 26, through contact of relay a, thence by wire 23 to signallamp 22, thence through coils of relay 22, and thence back to battery 26 by wire 25.

Relay 22" operates to close a second local circuit through the interval-measuring appliance, as follows: from contact-point 1) of relay 22 by wire p to one terminal 111. of a motor hereinafter described, also from lever 19 of relay 22 through battery 0 and wire 0 to the other terminal 12 of said motor.

Relay 4 acts, as usual, upon the insertion of plug 19 (with which is associated the usual operators battery 20, grounded at 21) into the spring-jack 18 to cut out the circuit of battery 1. All this telephonic equipment is familiar and in general use. The application of the present invention thereto necessitates no change in its construction and operation.

The interval-111easuring and alarm mechanism includes a small series motor 30 or other electro-actuated or electrocontrolled motive apparatus in the local circuit of relay 22. This mechanism might be directly in circuit with signal-lamp 22 or on main line in a relay-circuit controlled by current in main line or even upon the main line itself, but preferably is located in a special circuit controlled by relay as shown in series with the signallamp 22. The function of this motor is to advance disk 6 and wind mainspring 35 of the clock mechanism, which is effected by means of a worm a on shaft 6 of the motor engaging a worm-gear d, which through a pinion 0 drives a gear 0. The latter is mounted on a hub carrying the disk b, made of fiber or other insulating material. One end of the mainspring 35 is attached to this disk, (near its center,) and the other end is attached to the hub of arm (1., carried by the minute-staff a" of the clock mechanism. Thus every movement of the shaft of motor 30 advances disk 6 and puts a tension on the mainspring 35, which winds the clock-movement. winding of the mainspring may be accomplished in any suitable way, the main purpose of the electric motor being to advance disk 7).

Disk 7) has on its under side two concentric metal contact-rings s and 8'. Ring 8 is in electric connection with a pin f and ring a with a pin g, both pins being carried by the disk. Arm (4 lies between these two pins. Ring 8 is also in electrical contact with brush 7' and ring 8 with brush Z), the former being in the alarm-circuit and the latter in the cut.

frame of which is attached terminal screw Z.

Hence when arm a is in contact with pin g a short circuit across the terminals on and w. of the motor is formed from point p by wire v.1, resistance e, brush Z2, ring 8, pin g, arm a, the clock-train, terminal Z, and wire a, point 0. hen arm a is in contact with pin f, the alarm-circuit is closed from said pin to rings, brush j, bell If, local battery 8, annunciator r, terminal Z, and thence through the works to arm a. This alarm-circuit may be opened when desired by a switch (1. Any other suitable alarm-signals may be substituted for the annunciator and bell.

It is obvious that if disk 6 advances at intervals sufliciently frequent arm a will never overtake and make contact with pin f and an alarm will not be given. The periodic signal-sending device 12 at the protected structure is so arranged that so long as it is in normal operation and the circuit undisturbed it will transmit impulses often enough to accomplish this result. lVhen signal device 12 closes shunt 9, a strong current from battery 1 operates relay i, closing the circuit of signal-lamp 22, causing it to glow, and closing relay 22. Motor 30 being controlled by relay 22 starts into operation, advancing disk 6 until pin g makescontact with arm a, thereby closing the short circuit and cutting out the motor, as already explained.

It is desirable to insure operation of the clock-train by influencing the balance-wheel Obviously the.

it. For'this purpose as the iron of the motor is magnetized a derived field is also established through the soft-iron rods 2' 2 at opposite sides of the balance-wheel it, causing a piece of soft iron on the latter to set itself with relation thereto. This slightly displaces the balance-wheel with respect to the equilibrium of the hair-spring. IVhen the motor is shunted out of circuit and its field demagnetized, the derived field is likewise demagnetized and the balance-wheel released, insuring the start of the clock-train, and this process repeats itself. Arm (4 advances continuously, so that if the interval for the arrival of the next signal were exceeded it would make contact with pin f; but if the signal arrives when due this contact is avoided by the advance of disk 5, carrying with it pin f. This process repeats itself so long as the signals arrive at the regular intervals.

It is desirable that the signal-sending device 12 should send a signal as often as once in five or seven minutes and that the signal should be one easily distinguished from a telephonecallas, for example, three flashes of the signal-lamp 22. Appliance 11 at the protected structure should preferably send a diflerent signal than 12, but one which is also intermittent-as, for example, flashing lamp 22 for a minute constantly, then omitting the signal for an interval. The central operator would neglect the three-flash signal, but would know that if annunciator 0 and bell t were actuated signal connection with the protected structure had been lost and also that if the lamp flashed for a minute the alarm-circuit at the protected structure had been disturbed.

It is obvious that many modifications may be made in the details of the apparatus and in the arrangement thereof and of the various circuits without departing from the spirit of the invention.

hile the circuit-controlling arm and pins and the magnetic motor and clockworks for advancing the same are herein particularly described as constituting signal receiving means, my invention is not confined to such use, since said mechanism may also be employed for other purposes. As shown, for example, in my application, filed March 25, 1904, Serial No. 200,013, said mechanism is employed in connection with signal-transmitting apparatus.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an electric circuit, the combination with an automatic periodic-signaling mechanism, of an electrical device for automatically measuring the interval between signals and announcing when the interval is exceeded.

2. In an electric circuit, the combination with an automatic periodic-signaling mechanism, of an automatic interval-measuring device, consisting of a clock-movement, a contact-arm actuated thereby, a contact-pin, and means for periodicallyadvancing said pin.

3. In an electric circuit, the combination with an automatic periodical-signaling mechanism, of an automatic signal-measuring device, consisting of a magnetic winding device actuating a clock-movement,a contact-arm actuated by the clock-movement, and a contactpin advanced by the winding mechanism.

4. In an electrical circuit, the combination with an automatic periodical-signalingmechanism, of an automatic interval-measuring device consisting of a magnetic winder actuating a clock-movement, a traveling contactarm actuated by said movement, a periodically-advanced contact-pin and an alarm-circuit closed by the contact of said traveling arm and said pin.

5. In an electrical circuit, the combination with an automatic periodical-signaling mechanism, of an automatic interval-measuring device consisting of a clock-movement, a magnetic motive apparatus, a constantly-advancing contact-arm, actuated by the clock-movement. a periodically-advancing pin, a signal operated by contact of arm and pin, and a second periodically-advancing pin actuated by said motive apparatus to shunt the same out of circuit when the first contact-pin has advanced the proper distance.

6. In an electrical circuit, the combination with an automatic periodical-signaling mechanism, of an automatic interval-measuring device, consisting of a clock-movement a magnetic winder therefor, aconstantly-advancing arm and a periodically-advancing pin in circuit with an alarm-signal, a second periodically-advancing pin to cut out the winding mechanism, and a magnetic field brought from the magnetic circuit of the winding mechanism to the vicinity of the balance-wheel of the clock to start said balance-wheel by magnetically influencing a soft-iron bar connected to the balance-wheel.

7. The combination, in an electric circuit, with means for sending impulses at regular intervals, of a local alarm-circuit having a movable terminal, means actuated by saidimpulses for intermittently advancing said terminal, and a moving arm adapted to make contact with said terminal and close said alarmcircuit in case the said regular interval be exceeded.

8. Circuitcontrolling means comprising two circuit terminals or contacts movable in the same path, motor mechanism for regularly advancing one terminal at a predetermined speed, and electrically-actuated means for advancing the other terminal.

9. Circuit-controlling means comprising two circuit terminals or contacts traveling in the same path, motor mechanism for regularly advancing one terminal at a predetermined speed, an electric circuit, and means actuated by electric impulses in said circuit for. advancing the other terminal.

10. Circuit-controlling means comprising two circuit terminals or contacts traveling in the same path, motor mechanism for regularly advancing one terminal at a predetermined speed, a signaling-circuit, and means actuated by signal impulses in said circuit for advancing the other terminal.

11. Circuit-controlling means comprising two relatively fixed but movable terminals, a third movable terminal between the other terminals and traveling in the same path, motor mechanism for regularly advancing the third terminal at a predetermined speed, an electric circuit, and means actuated by electric impulses in said circuit for advancing the two relatively fixed terminals.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANKLIN S. HOLMES.

Witnesses:

TILLIAM E. HILLS, R. L. SCOTT. 

